diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 9f730d038..39593cb6c 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -2136,6 +2136,8 @@ class YoutubeDL:
 
     def _check_formats(self, formats):
         for f in formats:
+            if f.get('__working'):
+                yield f
             self.to_screen('[info] Testing format %s' % f['format_id'])
             path = self.get_output_path('temp')
             if not self._ensure_dir_exists(f'{path}/'):
@@ -2153,32 +2155,43 @@ class YoutubeDL:
                     except OSError:
                         self.report_warning('Unable to delete temporary file "%s"' % temp_file.name)
             if success:
+                f['__working'] = True
                 yield f
             else:
                 self.to_screen('[info] Unable to download format %s. Skipping...' % f['format_id'])
 
+    def _select_formats(self, formats, selector):
+        return list(selector({
+            'formats': formats,
+            'has_merged_format': any('none' not in (f.get('acodec'), f.get('vcodec')) for f in formats),
+            'incomplete_formats': (all(f.get('vcodec') == 'none' for f in formats)  # No formats with video
+                                   or all(f.get('acodec') == 'none' for f in formats)),  # OR, No formats with audio
+        }))
+
     def _default_format_spec(self, info_dict, download=True):
+        download = download and not self.params.get('simulate')
+        prefer_best = download and (
+            self.params['outtmpl']['default'] == '-'
+            or info_dict.get('is_live') and not self.params.get('live_from_start'))
 
         def can_merge():
             merger = FFmpegMergerPP(self)
             return merger.available and merger.can_merge()
 
-        prefer_best = (
-            not self.params.get('simulate')
-            and download
-            and (
-                not can_merge()
-                or info_dict.get('is_live') and not self.params.get('live_from_start')
-                or self.params['outtmpl']['default'] == '-'))
-        compat = (
-            prefer_best
-            or self.params.get('allow_multiple_audio_streams', False)
-            or 'format-spec' in self.params['compat_opts'])
-
-        return (
-            'best/bestvideo+bestaudio' if prefer_best
-            else 'bestvideo*+bestaudio/best' if not compat
-            else 'bestvideo+bestaudio/best')
+        if not prefer_best and download and not can_merge():
+            prefer_best = True
+            formats = self._get_formats(info_dict)
+            evaluate_formats = lambda spec: self._select_formats(formats, self.build_format_selector(spec))
+            if evaluate_formats('b/bv+ba') != evaluate_formats('bv*+ba/b'):
+                self.report_warning('ffmpeg not found. The downloaded format may not be the best available. '
+                                    'Installing ffmpeg is strongly recommended: https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#dependencies')
+
+        compat = (self.params.get('allow_multiple_audio_streams')
+                  or 'format-spec' in self.params['compat_opts'])
+
+        return ('best/bestvideo+bestaudio' if prefer_best
+                else 'bestvideo+bestaudio/best' if compat
+                else 'bestvideo*+bestaudio/best')
 
     def build_format_selector(self, format_spec):
         def syntax_error(note, start):
@@ -2928,12 +2941,7 @@ class YoutubeDL:
                 self.write_debug(f'Default format spec: {req_format}')
                 format_selector = self.build_format_selector(req_format)
 
-            formats_to_download = list(format_selector({
-                'formats': formats,
-                'has_merged_format': any('none' not in (f.get('acodec'), f.get('vcodec')) for f in formats),
-                'incomplete_formats': (all(f.get('vcodec') == 'none' for f in formats)  # No formats with video
-                                       or all(f.get('acodec') == 'none' for f in formats)),  # OR, No formats with audio
-            }))
+            formats_to_download = self._select_formats(formats, format_selector)
             if interactive_format_selection and not formats_to_download:
                 self.report_error('Requested format is not available', tb=False, is_error=False)
                 continue